Football | 9/3/2015 9:47:00 AM

GAME NOTES
Lincoln (0-0) vs. Cheyney (0-0)
Date: September 5, 2015
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Facility: O'Shields Stevenson Stadium
Media: Sportsfever TV and HSRN Radio
Live Feed: ESPN3
 
SERIES/LAST MEETING: Lincoln leads the all-time series 12-2-1. The last meeting between the two schools was last season when the Lions defeated the Wolves 30-18 in Lincoln University, Pa. The Wolves won two in a row back in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
 
LIONS ON THE ROAD: The Lions went 0-5 on the road last season, being outscored  256-81 by their opponents. Lincoln fell 27-14 to Montclair State on Sept.20, lost to Shaw 38-27 in the following week, lost to Virginia Union 78-13, Virginia State 63-7, and to Chowan 50-20 in the season finale.
 
LIONS IN SEASON OPENERS: Since the Lions return to the gridiron in 2008, Lincoln is 5-2 in season openers. Cheyney and Lincoln have played in six season openers while the other opener was a victory against George Mason in 2008.
 
FIRST YEAR UNDER COACH PICKENS: Coach Pickens makes his debut as the interim head coach of the Lions after serving seven seasons as an assistant. Pickens has been a part of the Lincoln football program since their return to the gridiron in 2008 after a 47 year absence. He was the defensive coordinator from 2008-2013 and served as the linebackers coach on the 2014 team that led the CIAA in defensive touchdowns with six total. Since his arrival at Lincoln Coach Pickens has served as the head recruiting coordinator for the football program that brought in several top recruits. Under his tutelage, Pickens coached five defensive All-CIAA First Team members: Tim Green, Brandon McElwee, Daron Jones, Brucelee Sterile, and Brion Robinson (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook HS).
 
38 NEWCOMERS ON THE 2015 LIONS: Coach Pickens and staff has recruited 38 new players to Lincoln made up of seven wide receivers, seven defensive backs, six defensive lineman, six offensive lineman, four running backs, four linebackers, two tight ends, and two quarterbacks.
 
10 STARTERS AND 35 LETTERMAN RETURN: The Lions return 10 starters from last season's 1-9 team. Five return on offense, four on defense, and one on special teams. Eighteen letterman return on offense with sixteen defensive letter winners returning.
 
ROBINSON NAMED TO ALL-CIAA PRESEASON TEAM: Senior defensive back Brion Robinson (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook HS) was the lone Lion to be recognized as a preseason All-CIAA Team member. He was named a preseason selection in 2014 and was also named to the 2014 All-CIAA Defensive Team.
 
ROBINSON RANKS THIRD ALL-TIME IN TACKLES FOR LIONS: Heading into his final season in the orange and blue, defensive back Brion Robinson (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook HS) has 235 total tackles. He needs 123 to tie the all-time leader Brandon McElwee's 358 total tackles and needs 44 solo tackles to become the leader in that category.
 
LIONS PICKED SIXTH IN CIAA NORTHERN PRESEASON POLL: The Lincoln Lions have been picked to finish sixth in the CIAA Northern Division and twelfth overall in the conference in the 2015 preseason poll. Lincoln last won a CIAA game back in 2012 against Johnson C. Smith (55-53) at home.
 
QUARTERBACK POSITION SOLIDIFIED: Senior quarterback Edward McKenzie (Paterson, NJ/Lackwanna College) has earned the starting QB spot following fall camp. McKenzie started for the Lions at quarterback in the final four games of the 2014 season. Freshman Jacob Luke (Starke, FL/Bradford HS) will be the backup and Justin White (Brooklyn, NY/Grand Street Station HS) is the other reserve.
 
SCOTT SETS A PAIR OF RUSHING RECORDS IN 2014: Junior running back Stephen Scott (Baltimore, MD/Bethel College) set a new single season rushing record at Lincoln with 956 yards in 2014. He also set a new rushing average per game with 95.6 yards in ten starts with three touchdowns. He needs 26 carries  to be the career leader in rushing attempts and two rushing touchdowns to secure the rushing touchdown record.  
 
LIONS OPEN SEASON ON ESPN3 FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR: The Lincoln and Cheyney football game will be aired live on ESPN 3 for the second straight year. The 2015 season marks the seventeenth meeting between the two universities, each claiming to be the oldest HBCU. This is the seventh consecutive season the two Chester County rivals have opened their campaigns in the Battle of the Firsts. The Lions won the last two meetings against the Wolves including a thrilling 30-18 win on national television in 2014.
 
RISING ROOKIES: Three true freshman are expected to start in the Lions season opener against the Wolves. On offense, Caleb Gentry (Lansing, MI/Sexton HS) will start at left guard while defensive linemen Isaiah Brown (Lansing, MI/Sexton HS) and Mikael Mays (Garden City, GA/Groves HS)  will start at nose tackle and right defensive end, respectively.
 
PENNSYLVANIA NATIVES: Lincoln has 12 players from Pennsylvania with nine calling Philadelphia home.
 
NEW NUMBERS: The Lions have had several number changes from 2014. Wide receiver Larquise Hobbs (Lansing, MI/J.W. Sexton HS) went from No. 17 to No. 4, corner back Dezman Ellis (Bowie, MD/DeMatha Catholic HS) went from No. 25 to No. 7, safety Jaleel Reddick (Newark, NJ/Morgan State University) went from No. 23 to No. 9, wide out Latevin Walker (Daytona Beach, FL/Atlantic HS) went from No. 24 to No. 12, running back Rashad Outlaw (Ewing, NJ/Ewing HS) went from No. 41 to No. 24, and kicker Brett Arkelian (Clovis, CA) switched from No. 30 to No. 48.
 
POSITION CHANGES: Former running backs Steven Gilliam (Bowie, MD/Bowie HS) and Mark Price (Philadelphia, PA/Charles Carroll HS) converted to defensive backs in 2015 with Price starting at free safety for the Lions. Price was the third leading rusher for the Lions in 2014 finishing with 43 yards. Senior Tyreese Green (Philadephia, PA/Howard HS) went from defensive line to a backup offensive lineman/tight end.